At least 12 people were killed and several others injured after a Polish tourist bus overturned on a motorway in eastern Hungary early Sunday, August 16, authorities said.
The deadly crash occurred near the town of Mezokeresztes as the bus was travelling toward Nyiregyhaza on the M3 motorway. Hungarian police said the vehicle left the road on a straight section of the motorway, entered a ditch and overturned.
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar confirmed the deaths in a post on Facebook, describing the incident as a tragic accident.
Bus Was Carrying 59 People
According to Hungary’s state news agency MTI, the bus was carrying 57 passengers and two drivers at the time of the crash.
Images released from the scene showed a badly damaged red bus lying on its side in a ditch beside the motorway. Several of its windows had been shattered, while luggage and other personal belongings could be seen scattered around the wreckage.
Emergency crews, including firefighters and medical personnel, were dispatched to the scene. The injured passengers were taken to hospitals for medical treatment.
Hungarian police said 12 people had died in the crash, while at least 10 others were reported injured in initial reports. Authorities were continuing to assess the situation as emergency operations and investigations proceeded.
Driver May Have Fallen Asleep
Police said preliminary information indicated that the driver may have fallen asleep while driving.
According to the initial account released by Hungarian authorities, the bus was travelling along the M3 motorway toward Nyiregyhaza when it suddenly veered off the road before overturning in a ditch.
The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation. Police said they were taking the bus driver into custody as part of the investigation into the accident.
Authorities are expected to examine the driver’s condition, the vehicle and other circumstances surrounding the crash to determine exactly what caused the bus to leave the motorway.
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Polish Authorities Respond
The crash prompted an immediate response from Polish officials as the victims were reported to be Polish nationals.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed sorrow over the deaths, saying he had received the tragic news of the accident in Hungary with deep sadness.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also confirmed that a bus carrying Polish tourists had been involved in the crash.
He said Polish consular services were operating and that officials were in contact with Hungarian authorities. The Foreign Ministry would provide verified information as it became available.
Investigation Underway
The deadly crash has brought together Hungarian emergency services and Polish diplomatic officials as authorities work to identify the victims and establish the full circumstances of the incident.
Police have not yet released detailed information about the identities or ages of those killed or injured.
While investigators are examining the possibility that driver fatigue played a role, the preliminary assessment has not yet established a final cause of the crash.
Further information is expected as Hungarian authorities continue their investigation and Polish officials work with local authorities to assist the victims and their families.
